Italy failed to protect their two-goal lead as the Red Devils came from behind to secure a 2-2 draw in their UEFA Nations League clash.
The Azzurri had been comfortably leading 2-0 with Andrea Cambiaso and Mateo Retegui,l goals but got pegged back by their visitors after Lorenzo Pellegrini’s red card changed everything in a hard-fought 2-2 draw.
The Azzurri went into the clash as the leader of their Nations League group after wins away to France and Israel.
During their clash against France, Italy conceded at the opening minute in Paris, but they took the lead immediately this time.
Federico Dimarco down the left completed a give-and-go with Mateo Retegui and rolled across for Andrea Cambiaso in the six-yard box. Koen Casteels parried the first attempt ea, but the rebound was bundled over the line for the Juventus winger’s debut Italy goal.
The hosts had an opportunity to double their lead moments later. Davide Frattesi was instrumental this time as he ran onto the long Alessandro Bastoni pass and pulled it back from the by-line with a dinked assist, but Arthur Theate managed to clear.
After Jeremy Doku’s attempt was deflected over for a corner, Italy eventually doubled their lead with a wonderfully-worked goal.
The move began from the back, but the highlight was Dimarco’s first-time cross-field pass to Cambiaso down the right, who cut inside, and his low left-foot drive was parried with one hand by Casteels into the path of Retegui to make it two.
Frattesi had a chance to extend their lead, but his diving header on a Dimarco cross went wide.
The game changed when Lorenzo Pellegrini was sent off after going into a sliding tackle and caught ex-Bologna defender Theate on the ankle. He was given a yellow card, which was then changed to red following a VAR On-Field Review.
Italy was pegged back as Belgium scored on the resulting free-kick, which was worked to find Maxim De Cuyper for a left-foot curler into the far bottom corner from the edge of the area.
Italy didn’t stop attacking, as an opportunity came straight after the restart. Frattesi was given a chance to restore Italy’s two-goal lead when he blasted over after controlling an Alessandro Bastoni long ball rather than passing to Retegui.
As Italy continued to face tremendous pressure, they conceded the second when Faes nodded down a corner for Leandro Trossard at full stretch to flick it in at the near post.
Bastoni had to stop Openda from putting the Red Devils in the lead as the Inter Milan defender dived into the tackle. The referee opted for a corner, and VAR agreed, following their silent check.
They continued to look for a winner as Openda deflected the De Cuyper effort off target with Donnarumma heading the other way, while Dodi Lukebakio blasted over.
